A booking photo of Bellew and a gun similar to the one police found at the scene.(Photo: PPB)

PORTLAND, Ore. — A man who was shot and killed by Portland police in the parking lot of a Northeast Portland grocery store had a starter pistol, not a real firearm, police said.

Two officers approached a car at 11:35 p.m. Sunday parked on the west side of the WinCo Foods at Northeast 122nd Avenue and San Rafael Street.

The officers, Dominic Lovato and Michael Currier, approached three people who were standing at the trunk of the car, according to a press release from the Portland Police Bureau.

The officers were talking with the group when Alan Lee Bellew, 29, got a gun out of the car and pointed at the officers and the other people, the police bureau said.

“He was in the passenger side, reaching into the passenger side, where he retrieved the gun from somewhere inside the passenger compartment,” said Sgt. Pete Simpson. “And that’s where the shooting occured when he was there. He fell back into the passenger seat and then was ultimately pulled out of the vehicle by the officers to render medical aid.”

Both officers fired their handguns at Bellew, police said.

“What we do know is without provocation he grabbed this gun from inside the vehicle and that resulted in the shooting,” said Simpson.

Medical crews rushed to the scene but found Bellew dead when they arrived.

Sgt. Pete Simpson said the entire event happened very quickly, as is often the case in unexpected confrontations.

No police officers were injured.

Police later determined the gun Bellew pointed at officers was a starter pistol (like the one pictured), which looks identical to an actual pistol.

A man and a woman who were also standing at the car were detained at the scene. They were not injured, Simpson said.

Detectives discovered the Bellew was from the Eugene area and was wanted in Lane County for failure to appear on a heroin possession charge, as well as a probation violation related to assault and resisting arrest.

The car was towed from the scene after the overnight investigation. Tape marked what appeared to be several bullet holes in the windshield of the grey VW sedan, on the driver’s side.

The incident is under investigation.

The results of the investigation will be turned over to the district attorney’s office. It will then be presented to a grand jury.

The officers involved in the shooting will be on paid administrative until the jury proceedings are over.

Anyone with information about the investigation was asked to call detectives at 503-823-0692.